Wantage MP Ed Vaizey has urged fellow Tory MPs to back Prime Minister Theresa May in tonight's no confidence vote.

The former culture minister tweeted: "Email just arrived from Graham Brady, vote tonight on PM’s leadership, between 6pm and 8pm. I will be supporting the PM, we don’t need a self indulgent leadership election at this time."

He also went on this morning's Today programme to argue that now is not the right time to prompt a leadership contest in the Conservative Party, with Brexit negotiations at such a crucial stage.

Mr Vaizey said: "Well I just think it’s total self-indulgence - you know we’re a few months away from leaving the European Union, we’ve still got to try and sort out the terms on which we’re leaving and now the Tory Party is going to indulge in this massive bout of introspection, potentially leading to instability if she doesn’t win the no confidence vote tonight.”

He added: "Most of the names which are public are the traditional Brexiteers who seem to be playing this bizarre game of hardball without any thought about the consequences for our country.”

Theresa May made a statement in Downing Street, vowing to fight an effort to oust her as Conservative leader and Prime Minister “with everything I’ve got”.

The Prime Minister’s statement came about an hour after it was confirmed the chairman of the Conservative backbench 1922 Committee, Sir Graham Brady, had received the 48 letters of no confidence from Tory MPs required to trigger a ballot on the leadership.

Lib Dem Oxford West and Abingdon MP Layla Moran condemned the vote of no confidence.

She said: "The Conservatives have, yet again, put their own self-interest and petty squabbling above the national interest.

"It is clear that neither Theresa May nor a new party leader will be able to get a better deal from the EU.

"The only way out of this mess is for the PM to show real leadership by calling a People’s Vote, and letting the public choose between this Brexit chaos and uncertainty or stability under the best deal we already have as a member of the EU.”

Oxford East Labour MP Anneliese Dodds said: "This is putting the interests of quite a small number of people first, who have quite extreme views, and putting them before the interests of British business, our universities and all the EU citizens who are based here.

"If the ERG (European Research Group of MPs) ends up being strengthened we are more likely to see a no deal Brexit, which really would be a nightmare."

Mrs May said changing Conservative leader would “put our country’s future at risk and create uncertainty when we can least afford it” and could lead to Brexit being delayed or prevented.

She added: “We must and we shall deliver on the referendum vote and seize the opportunities that lie ahead.”

Henley MP John Howell tweeted that he would support the Prime Minister.

He said: "I have been asked how I will vote tonight. I will vote for the Prime Minister. We must let her complete the task she has started. This is not the moment for change."

He added: "Contacts from constituents this morning are running at close to 95% in favour of the Prime Minister. This is a time for calm heads and I am grateful for this support."

Banbury MP Victoria Prentis also tweeted her support for Theresa May, saying: "Inundated with messages of support for the #PM from my constituents this morning. Now is not the time for change."

Witney MP Robert Courts has not yet tweeted his reaction and the Oxford Mail has requested a comment.

Former Prime Minister and former Witney MP David Cameron expressed his support for Mrs May in a tweet.

He said: "I hope Conservative MPs will back the PM in the vote today. We need no distractions from seeking the best outcome with our neighbours, friends and partners in the EU."

Mrs May told MPs at Prime Minister's Questions: "We have a solemn duty to deliver on the result of the referendum in 2016."

The pound has dropped to its lowest level for almost two years.

The Prime Minister's decision to delay Tuesday's parliamentary vote on her Brexit plan to avoid an embarrassing defeat for the government sent sterling tumbling by more than 1.3 per cent against the dollar and by almost one per cent against the euro on the foreign exchanges.